God Is Near: Finding Him in Seasons of Grief and Loss
Grief looks different for every one of us. It can be the death of someone we love, the loss of a relationship, a dream that did not happen, a season that ended, or simply life looking nothing like we thought it would.
I know this because I have been there. I did not see my own season of grief coming. One phone call, and the world stopped turning. Suddenly I was carrying a role I never asked for and did not feel ready to carry.
If you are walking through grief right now, here is where I want us to begin: God is near.
"The LORD is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
What I Am Learning in the Hard Places
I do not process all of my pain out loud, and you do not have to either. But I do not want to hide what God is doing in the middle of it. Even in the hardest days, there have been sweet moments of His kindness.
Grief has also uncovered an old, guarded place in my heart, one God is gently asking me to open back up. Healing has not been tidy. Sometimes my heart is still catching up to what I have already chosen to forgive, and I am learning that both of those things can be true at once.
We do not have to rush through the hard places. We do not have to pretend they do not hurt. Even Jesus wept at the tomb of His friend Lazarus (John 11:35). Grief is not a sign of weak faith. It is a place where God meets us.
That is why Psalm 34:18 means so much to me. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. Not distant. Not waiting for us to get it together first. Close.
Hear from a Past Pilgrim
Tanya's wilderness season began long before her pilgrimage, with years of hard things like rejection and isolation. Then, in 2022, her 25-year-old son, died unexpectedly. It was the hardest season of her life. As many people pulled away from her grief, she wasn't sure how to keep living.
Through Active Abundance, she found her way back into nature, surrounded by women who showed her kindness and reminded her that her grief was not the sum of who she is or who God created her to be. Psalm 121 became her anchor: "I lift up my eyes to the mountains; where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth."
On the trail, she learned she didn't have to reach the mountaintop to experience God. Jesus met her right where she was, even in the valley.
"My experience with Active Abundance has changed my life forever."
Ways to Walk with God Through Grief
Bring Him your honest heart. The Psalms are full of lament. You can pray your tears, your questions, and your silence. (Psalm 13)
Sit with His promises. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Matthew 5:4) "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me." (Psalm 23:4)
Let others walk with you. Grief was never meant to be carried alone. Let a friend, your church, or a small group come close.
Make room for stillness. You do not need the right words. Sometimes simply sitting in God's presence is prayer enough.
If your grief feels too heavy to carry, please reach out to a pastor, a Christian counselor, or someone you trust.
A Prayer
Lord, You are near to the brokenhearted. Meet me in the places that still hurt. Hold what I cannot hold, and remind me that I am not walking this alone. Amen.
You Are Not Alone
Whatever your wilderness looks like right now, grief, sickness, or a relationship you are still learning to hold, you are not walking it alone. He has this season. He has you.
Where is your heart broken right now? Rest in the truth that He is near.
WILDly Abiding,
Lisa
If you are in a wilderness season and want to walk it with other women, learn more about our discipleship pilgrimages.